Mergers and acquisitions are expected to increase in coming months due to a pent-up demand to buy, according to a partner at PS Capital Partners in Milwaukee. "As much as $500 billion to $750 billion in capital is in the leveraged buyout side of the ...

FMC Corporation entered into a definitive agreement to acquire South Pole Biogroup Ltda., a Chilean-based natural color and specialty nutrition ingredients manufacturer. FMC expects to close the acquisition before the end of the year. Full Story

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. acquired Daniels Group from SATS Ltd. UK-based Daniels Group is a marketer and manufacturer of natural chilled foods with brands including New Covent Garden Soup Co., Johnson's Juice Co. and Farmhouse Fare. Consideration in the transaction consisted of cash at ...

Sara Lee Corp. entered into an agreement to sell a majority of its North American foodservice coffee and tea operations to The J.M. Smucker Company for $350 million. The two companies will also establish a long-term partnership to collaborate on liquid coffee innovation. In addition, ...

Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B. de C.V. expects to complete its acquisition of Sara Lee Corporation's North American Fresh Bakery business on Nov. 5, having received approval from DOJ. As a condition of approval for the deal, DOJ is requiring Bimbo Bakeries USA to divest the Sara ...

Dead River Co. will sell its convenience stores to Circle K and exit the retail industry. The Circle K purchase covers 19 stores. The sale and switchover of the stores is expected to be completed in December, reported The Republic. Full Story

MGP Ingredients, Inc. subsidiary MGPI of Indiana, LLC signed an agreement with Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana, LLC (LDI) to acquire beverage alcohol distillery assets located in Lawrenceburg, IN used in the production of customized and premium grade whiskeys, gins and grain neutral spirits. The LDI assets ...

The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.'s Board of Directors initiated a process to explore a possible sale of Allrecipes. Morgan Stanley and Evercore Partners are acting as financial advisors to assist the company with the strategic review process. Full Story

SPX Corporation's Flow Technology segment entered into a definitive agreement to acquire e&e Verfahrenstechnik GmbH, a supplier of extraction, evaporation, vacuum and freeze drying technologies to industries including food and beverages. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011. Full ...

Utz Quality Foods Inc. purchased Wachusett Potato Chip Co. Inc. The purchase included the company's Fitchburg, MA-based manufacturing plant and distribution routes. Utz plans to increase the plant's potato chip output, reported Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Full Story

Groupe Danone is reportedly in talks to sell bottled-water assets to Japan's Suntory Holdings Ltd., and is seeking to reach an agreement to sell the assets by the end of the year. The proceeds may then be used to fund a possible offer for Pfizer ...

PepsiCo Inc. is reportedly close to entering a joint venture with German dairy company Theo Muller Group in an effort to break into the fast growing yogurt business. PepsiCo and Muller plan to launch a new yogurt brand in the U.S., and details of the ...

Unilever NV acquired Finland-based Ingman Ice Cream Oy Ab. The company has units in Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and Belarus and posted $95 million in sales last year, reported Bloomberg.com. The deal requires competition authority approvals. Full Story

Synergy Flavors acquired Sethness Greenleaf. Sethness Greenleaf manufactures natural, natural and artificial, synthetic flavors, extracts, beverage emulsions and clouding agents for the food and beverage industries. Full Story

99 Cents Only Stores entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of Ares Management LLC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for approximately $1.6 billion in cash. Members of the Gold/Schiffer family entered into a voting agreement in support of the ...